Pune: In response to the recurring flood conditions, Pune Municipal Commissioner Dr. Rajendra Bhosale has directed officials to prepare short-term and long-term action plans to address the issue.
The directive follows a report submitted by a four-member committee appointed to investigate the causes of flooding in July.
A critical meeting was held on December 11 at PMC to discuss the findings and plan the way forward. Officials from the PMC and the Irrigation Department, including Additional Commissioner Prithviraj B.P., City Engineer Prashant Waghmare, and committee members, were present at the meeting.
Flood Causes and Impact
In July, record rainfall in the Khadakwasla Dam catchment area led to excessive water discharge from the dam, causing the river to overflow. This resulted in severe flooding in several areas, with Ekta Nagari on Sinhagad Road among the worst affected.
Hundreds of homes were submerged, leading to the loss of household belongings and damages amounting to lakhs of rupees. Other affected areas included Deccan, Khilare Vasti, and Patil Estate.
The floods also sparked a blame game between the Municipal Corporation and the Irrigation Department, prompting Commissioner Bhosale to form a committee to determine the root causes.
Action Plan
Based on the committee's findings, Commissioner Bhosale outlined a two-pronged approach to prevent future flooding:
Short-Term Measures:
Removal of encroachments from the riverbed.
Clearing of debris from the riverbed.
Strict action against individuals or entities dumping debris into the riverbed.
Accountability assigned to regional offices and the encroachment department for enforcement.
Long-Term Measures:
Removal of unnecessary barriers obstructing water flow.
Relocation of residents from flood-prone areas.
Development of cluster housing for residents of Ekta Nagari.
Construction of retaining walls to control floodwaters.
Demolition of illegal structures along the riverbed.
Preparation of a detailed plan for implementation and monitoring.
The Commissioner emphasized the urgency of short-term measures to prevent a repeat of this year's flooding, alongside long-term strategies to ensure sustainable flood management in the future.